Here is the second part of the tribute video to « Women in Whisky » for which, I am presenting you 11 portraits (but there are more women quoted) & tasting 5 whiskies to illustrate the work of these women...Again, for practical reasons, I have limited my choice, here, presentation & tasting wise, to UK & European whiskies & a few other spirits. The 2 videos are a tribute to women I have met, for most of them, and/or have made history a long time ago. They are dedicated to #anna (K.) #sonia (T.) #leeann ( #scotchonthebayou ) #lunaarran #helene (W.).
As I had technical issues with a sudden cut of the recording last week end, the video is cut in 2 parts, so you will have to check out Part 1 already released, especially if you’re interested in the historical aspects of this topic, and about the following women : Stephanie MacLeod, for Dewar’s (I am tasting the « Signature »), Rita Taketsuru (tasting a « Taketsuru/Pure Malt »), Cara Laing, Lynne McEwan (tasting an old Bruichladdich 15 yo 2nd Edition), etc... As usual, you will find time chapters below...
TIME CHAPTERS :
0:00 PORTRAITS & TASTINGS (Part 2) :
0:05 -Helen & Elizabeth CUMMINGS (mother & daughter), 19th Century...(for CARDHU distillery)
4:50 -Kelsie Mc Kechnie, World’s youngest apprentice Malt Master, mainly for The BALVENIE distillery. etc...)
10:25 -Gillian Mac DONALD, trainee distiller in 2004 for PENDERYN Welsh distillery, and the 3 Women who replaced her in 2012 (Laura Davis, Aista Jukneviciute & Bethan Morgans. In 2012, Gillian did join master blender Bill Lumsden’s team as head of analytics and whisky creation for Glenmorangie & Ardbeg.
13:28 (Tasting 4)-PENDERYN « Madeira » First fill & 2nd Fill Bourbon casks (from Buffalo Trace distillery) + Madeira casks finish, nas (± 4 yo) bottled 12/02/2012, ncf/nc, 46 % (Single Malt Whisky, Wales/UK).
14:50 -Julie MICHARD, daughter of Jean Michard. master distiller (first whisky release in 2011, France).
19:48 (Tasting 5)-MICHARD (J. Michard distillery) 8 yo, Sherry casks, ncf, nc, 43 % (Single Malt Whisky, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France)
22:15 -Katy GRAVINA, distiller since 2017 (first whisky released in 2011), at the TOS Distillery, France. / Preselected but not tasted there : -ARTESIA (T.O.S. distillery) « Limited Edition Sherry », 3 yo, bottled in 2022 (batch 1), matured in Bourbon casks (1st fill maj.) & finished for over 6 months in New oak (toasted), 1300 bottles, ncf/nc, 46 %(Single Malt Whisky, Hauts-de-France, France)
25:43 *-Martine NOUET, Whisky Writer/Food Journalist, specialized in Spirits & Food pairing, including Whisky & Food pairing. (…) Among her books, aside from the awarded « Guide Hachette du Whisky » (Hachette, 2015) in French, she wrote a cookbook called « A Table, du verre à l’assiette » (L’Esprit Gourmet, 2017) that you can also find in English under the name « A table, whisky from glass to plate ».
28:00 Short tribute to Helen ARTHUR, whisky writer (RIP, 2015). She published her first boo « The Single Malt Whisky Companion » in 1997.
29:16 -Angela d’ORAZIO, master blender (in the 2000s) at MACKMYRA Swedish distillery.
32:32 (Tasting 6)-MACKMYRA « Special 06 », Summer Meadow, BB/SH bottled 2011, 46,8 % (Single Malt Whisky, Sweden)
34:31 Quick parenthesis about the creation of the first whisky in Scottish history...
35:48 -Annabel THOMAS, founder & manager, since 2013 /Preselected but not tasted there : -NC’NEAN « Organic », bottled 2021 b. 06, (65 % STR + 35 % US oak), ncf/nc, 46 % (Single Malt Whisky, Highlands/UK).
38:45 -Shona MacLEOD, master-distiller & master blender (Gin & Whisky) since 2024, works for the company since 2021./ Preselected but not tasted there : -ISLE OF HARRIS « The Hearach », 1st release, batch 5, (BB/Sherry Oloroso+Fino), 2023, 46 % (Single Malt Whisky, Highlands/UK).
41:45 -Antonia BRUCE, co-founder of Adelphi (1993) & ARDNAMURCHAN co-blender (2014), European & UK Sales Executive & -Jenny KARLSSON, blending team member since 2019 (…), Marketing Communications Manager.
45:54 (Tasting 7) -ARDNAMURCHAN « AD/04.21.03 », Bourbon & Sherry Oloroso casks, ncf/nc, distilled 2017, bottled 2024, 57,3 %(Single Malt Whisky, Highlands/UK).
47:12 -Bessie Williamson (entered in 1934 in the company as a short hand typist, then distillery manager of LAPHROAIG from 1944 to 1972)
53:26 (Tasting 8)-LAPHROAIG 18 yo, fûts de Bourbon Casks), 2008 ou 2010, 48 % (Single Malt Whisky, Islay/UK)
56:32 Some final mentions/Shout outs (Whisky & other Spirits)
Link to Part 1 of this video (WOMEN IN WHISKY... Part 1 : History/4 Portraits/3 Tastings) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62D1IMVrosA&t=194s
PATREON link to support me (soutien à la chaîne) : https://buymeacoffee.com/gregswhiskyguide